The media's portrayal of New Orleans (a quick rant)

I am watching the early morning ABC news broadcast that is being sent out over the airwaves to every tv set in the nation. Just now they just did a bit on New Orleans. Let me tell you, it was the biggest crock I have ever seen.

The entire bit was trying to say that New Orleans no longer has musicians. They said that you can't find a street performer ANYWHERE because they are no longer here. Then they showed what they claimed to be Bourbon St. on this past Saturday night.

It was so ridiculously wrong I am forced to beleive they only did the story to be sensationalist. And I hate saying that, but it is true.

The footage that was supposedly taken last night showed maybe 30 people on a given block. Well, that wasn't the case because I was out there to see it in person. The streets of the French Quarter were slammed. They have estimated nearly 700,000 people coming in for the festivities. That is actually a lot when you consider the number was 1,000,000 pre-Katrina. Not only that, but almost every block on Royal Street had a different street performer from a Blues band, to a few acapella singers, to a drummer, and on and on...

Heck, I live in the French Quarter and not a SINGLE day goes by where I don't hear street musicians. There is almost always a brass band in Jackson Square on nice days, and there are always guys out with guitars on the corners.

Honestly, I am sick and tired of the media making New Orleans out to be what it is and is not. This whole bit that I just saw was a complete departure from the truth and was riddled with false statements.

Thanks media for really helping out. Thanks a lot. I interact with tourists visiting this part of town all of the time and you would NOT believe how many believe there is STILL water covering parts of the city. Amazing.


*EDIT*
I flipped over to CBS "Up to the Minute" News and they featured a seperate bit on New Orleans. Funny, because in THAT when they had footage of the French Quarter you could hear trumpets in the background at one point, then they SHOWED a full brass band on the street later on in the bit.

How stupid.

 

Dr. John brought us some 'real stuff' over to Houston last night, brudda....

I think the guy behind me was smokin' the real stuff also........Valeria faded kind of early but the SRO crowd was well behaved..


That 700K number I've seen published...so it must be true!

 

"Bluesiana Triangle" is a great CD, with Art Blakey on the drums.......R.I.P. Art...

 

Nice! Sounds like a great time

As per the 700k people who are here right now. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it is found that they spend slightly more $$$ here than they normally would as individuals coming to a pre-Katrina Mardi Gras based off of the probable assumption that people will spend more $$$ in local stores in order to bring back home a piece of New Orleans. A lot of the people here are those who truly love the city and don't want to miss out on something that people were at one point not even sure would happen again.

Maybe we can get the art car a New Orleans theme?

 

LOL! I think I am more shocked at the fact that you are shocked by the untra-liberal anti-New Orleans ABC bias!

Dave

BTW, give me a holler after tues. we'll do lunch.

 

It is just so pathetic that the news has to always be doom and gloom such to the point that they would make up a story as lame as this...to the detriment of the city. People see that nonsense and don't want to come visit. It is absurd because I can imagine the cameramen thinking, "uhhh, these musicians better shutup so we can get some quiet shots!"

Let's do it, we'll have ABC news follow us so they can twist the footage and make it look like we had to resort to looting for our lunch, lol.

 

My lord, I spoke too soon. I just caught a segment on CBS Up to the Minute stating that it was HARD TO FIND FOOD IN GROCERY STORES here.

Good Morning America will be live from 2 blocks from me this morning, maybe if I tell them that I just saw Marty McFly come back from the future to tell me that a giant meteor is headed right for New Orleans they will help evacuate the city

 

Yea, we'll definately have some New Orleans specific graphics, next time we roll thru the Quarter!


I "heart" N.O.!

Hang in there, ya'll.....

 

Tell 'em call room service, then......

*in a 'let 'em eat King cake voice*

 

My wife is headed there on Saturday for a 'post' Mardi Gras celebration. I told her she needs to leave her jewelry at home, to which she responded "Why, do you believe all the hype that crime has increased?". I told her no, because it's New Orleans, and she'll be in the Quarter accompanied only by a girlfriend.

Sheesh.

 

I don't know Jim, it might be even more dangerous if she walks into Franco's jewelry store on Royal St. in NEED of some new items!

 

I had my own bird's eye view of Mardi Gras yesterday. ABC had a continuous satellite feed from a camera mounted about 15 feet above street level looking down on some place called Rick's Cabaret. The feed was up all day yesterday. During the slow times here at work, we were watching the crowd as if we were sitting on our own balcony.

I did note that the weather seemed very hot down there, because one time there was a girl who couldn't take the heat anymore so she pull off her top for quite a while.

Tough job here. Drinking my Dr.Pepper, posting on F-chat, and watching topless Mardi Gras babes on a closed circuit satellite feed.

When does the caterer get here? More ice in my drink please!!!